Zurich, Switzerland, September 9, 2013. Host
Germany, FIVB World Grand Prix bronze medal winners Serbia, Russia as well as
Belgium booked their quarterfinal tickets at 2013 CEV Volleyball European
Championship for women, the first of four continental championships in
September where the winners qualify for the women's FIVB World Grand Champions
Cup. A big surprise came with Belgium beating World No. 4 Italy in Pool B’s
last match of the preliminary round.

Co-host Germany secured their quarterfinal
ticket with a faultless straight-set win over Turkey (25-19, 25-23, 27-25). In
Pool A’s first duel of the day, The Netherlands outclassed Spain 25-16, 25-14,
25-18. Turkey and the Netherlands advance to the playoff round.

After their big success versus Azerbaijan
the day before, Belarus could not tie in with another big game in Pool C.
Croatia outshined the Byelorussians in straight sets (25-19, 25-10, 25-19).
Russia booked their third win at EuroVolley 2013 by defeating Azerbaijan in
straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 28-26). Powerhouse Russia go directly to the
quarterfinals, Croatia and Belarus continue in the playoff round.

The winner of the CEV Volleyball European Championship
will qualify for the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup featuring a
total of six teams per gender with the hosts Japan being joined by the
continental winners from Asia, Europe, NORCECA and South America with an
additional country selected by the FIVB. Africa do not have an automatic spot
in the tournament after finishing the 2012 Olympic Games as the lowest ranked
confederation amongst the five.

The World Grand Champions Cup is a
quadrennial round-robin competition for men and women. The last edition of the
tournament was in 2009 with Brazil coming away with the men’s title for the
second consecutive time after remaining unbeaten while in the women’s
tournament, Italy picked up their first ever crown. Japan will host the next
edition, with the women’s event set to take place from November 12 to 17, 2013
and the men’s from November 19 to 24, 2013.